With it, Toyota hopes to improve mileage by at least 10 %.

Toyota is on the cutting-edge once again and this time testing a material that possesses hardness almost comparable to diamonds.

Found in nature and called ‘carbide,’ Toyota has harnessed this and developed it into a silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor that will be used in control units of their hybrids.

With a carbide base, the chips theoretically will ‘have superior characteristics such as one-tenth the electrical power loss and 10 times the drive frequency’ and it will also allow Toyota to reduce the size of the ‘automotive power control units by 80 percent.’

Currently in testing phase, the Toyota hybrid vehicles using these chips have achieved 5 percent fuel efficiency.

Toyota plans to test drive units with this technology on public roads in Japan within this year and get it into production units by 2020.

AutoIndustriya.com is the leading automotive resource for the Philippines. Featuring daily headlines and breaking news from the Philippine auto industry and around the world. AutoIndustriya.com comprehensively covers the industry with features, test drives, car show reports, technology and safety updates, motorsports, and a car buyers guide.

SEARCH AutoIndustriya.com

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAILING LIST

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

A confirmation e-mail will be sent to you to verify your subscription. If you do not receive this, kindly give your bulk/spam folder a look as it might have gotten lost in there. Don't worry, we won't sell or give away your e-mail address to anyone as that wouldn't be cool.